A housing provider has defended the decision to sell a number of its properties, saying that money raised will go towards building other new homes.

Cornwall Live was recently contacted by a member of the public who complained that Coastline Housing had either sold or was in the process of selling three properties in Redruth - in Close Hill, Murdoch Close and Bellevue.

Cornwall Live immediately contacted Coastline which replied saying that there were several reasons behind the decision.

It said in a statement: “Two properties in Close Hill and Murdoch Close are currently for sale, while the house in Bellevue was sold in July.

“We routinely review homes as they become vacant and have a programme of sales where it is identified that a lot of money is needed for things like roof replacements, major repairs, insulation and heating improvements.

“To help our customers we have a target to ensure that homes should cost no more than £600 per year to heat, so this is an important factor.

“All income from these sales is being reinvested into building new affordable homes which are much cheaper to heat as they meet current energy efficiency standards.

“This year we are constructing 350 new homes, which are in part funded by the sale of these properties.”

Read More

Coastline Housing Ltd is an independent, not-for-profit housing association which owns and manages more than 4,100 homes. The company’s purpose is to build homes and offer services.

An insert on the Coastline Housing website reads: “The challenge faced by Coastline Housing is enormous. In many areas of Cornwall, high house price rises have excluded many people from owning their own home. Thousands of families have registered for affordable rented housing in the county and many more are known to be in need.

“With a growing annual turnover - currently £24 million - and staff totalling over 250, Coastline Housing’s contribution to solving this problem and improving people’s lives continues to increase.”